Michael “Mike” Krak, a former golf professional at Wee Burn Country Club, has passed away and is scheduled to have a memorial service on Saturday, Feb. 11, in Palm Beach, Fl.
A memorial service for the late Mike Krak will be held in Palm Beach, Fl. on Saturday, Feb. 11.
Born in what is now the Slovak Republic, Mike’s family settled in Weirton, W.V., He attended Weirton High School, then West Virginia University, graduating in 1948. While attending WVU, he captained the golf team for three years.
He was elected to the Physical Education School Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2014, Mike was the first and only golfer to be inducted into the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame.
Choosing to follow a career in golf, Mike accepted the position of assistant professional to the Hall of Fame Professional Henry Picard at the Canterbury Golf Club in Cleveland.
His career was interrupted by a three-year stint in the United States Air Force (in the early 1950s). Mike was commissioned Officer and a pilot, receiving his wings with the Class of 52-C.
[Neither his birth year nor date of death, nor the funeral home (if any) in charge of arrangements was included in this obituary, originally published by the Palm Beach Post.]
Upon discharge, Mike joined the PGA Tour and played for three years. He was one of the tour’s longest hitters, twice winning the PGA Long Drive Contest in 1956 and 1957.
Mike started his club professional career in 1957 at the Lake View Country Club in Morgantown, W.V. He served as golf director or professional at some of the best clubs in the East: Century Golf Club in Purchase, N.Y.; Wee Burn Country Club in Darien; John’s Island Country Club and Hawks Nest Golf Club in Vero Beach, Fl.; and PGA National.
Mike had an outstanding record as a player. He twice won the Tri-State PGA Championship, twice won the Metropolitan New York PGA Championship as well as the Westchester Open, and the Bermuda Pan-Am Championship. Mike played in five U.S. Open Championships, nine PGA Championships, and one British Open.
In 1999, Mike was selected as the Senior Honoree for the South Florida PGA Section. He was a PGA member for 65 years. He also helped local charities raise money through golf, serving on the Youth for Christ Committee for 25 years.
Mike is survived by: Susan, his loving wife of 56 years; his three children, Jennifer (Dan), David and Greg (Kathleen); and his eight grandchildren, Ashlyn, Alexandra, Annsley, Josh, Jake, Michael, Ryley and Kaiden. Mike was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in North Palm Beach.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 11 at First Presbyterian Church in North Palm Beach, Fl.
Please send donations in Mike’s honor to First Presbyterian Church in North Palm Beach, 717 Prosperity Farms Rd, North Palm Beach, FL 33408.
To express condolences and/or make donations: Visit the Palm Beach Coast obituaries Web page.